Release Detail

September 27, 1998 - Pataki Holds 2-1 Lead Over Vallone,
Quinnipiac College Poll Finds;
Attorney General's Race Is Close

Republican incumbent Gov. George Pataki holds a 50 - 25 percent lead over Democratic
challenger Peter Vallone, among New York State registered voters, with 7 percent for
Independence Party candidate Thomas Golisano and 6 percent for Liberal Party candidate Betsy
McCaughey Ross, according to a Quinnipiac College Poll released today.

Vallone, the New York City Council Speaker, beats Pataki 46 - 33 percent among
registered voters in the City, with 6 percent for Ross and 3 percent for Golisano. Upstate,
Pataki beats Vallone 55 - 12 percent, with 6 percent for Ross and 13 percent for Golisano.
Suburban voters back Pataki 62 - 20 percent over Vallone, with 5 percent for Ross and 1
percent for Golisano.

Pataki's approval rating is 62 - 26 percent among registered voters, similar to his 64 - 29
percent approval in a June 17 poll by the independent Quinnipiac College.

"Gov. Pataki is popular and most New Yorkers say he's doing a good job. Speaker
Vallone is popular, too, among those who know him. But most people don't know him," said
Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac College Polling Institute.

"Unless Vallone can build on his New York City base -- and build big -- the race for
governor is shaping up as a blowout."

"Many observers suggested that Lt. Governor Ross wouldn't run an active campaign as
a Liberal. The new Quinnipiac College Poll numbers suggest that maybe she shouldn't bother.
She's the only candidate measured who get negative favorability ratings," Carroll said.

"And Golisano barely registers on the recognition meter."

By a 51 - 19 percent margin, New York voters have a favorable opinion of Pataki, with
23 percent mixed and 7 percent who say they haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

"While Comptroller McCall's lead in his race for reelection tops the 2 - 1 mark, the race
for Attorney General is wide open. Vacco's lead over Spitzer is much less than the number of
people who tell Quinnipiac College pollsters they haven't made up their minds," Carroll said.

From September 16 -22, Quinnipiac College surveyed 1,170 New York State registered
voters, including 574 likely voters. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent for
registered voters and 4.1 percent for likely voters. The Quinnipiac College Poll, directed by
Douglas Schwartz, conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
as a public service and for research.
For additional data: www.quinnipiac.edu

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is handling his job
as Governor of New York?

Jun 17
Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind 1998

Approve 62% 67% 47% 75% 86% 47% 58% 64%

Disapprove 26 21 40 19 10 40 25 29

DK/NA 11 12 13 7 4 13 18 7

3. How much attention have you been paying to this year's campaigns for Governor
and United States Senator? A lot, some, only a little, or none at all?

11. If the 1998 election for Governor were being held today would you vote for
George Pataki, the Republican candidate, Peter Vallone, the Democratic candidate,
Betsey McCaughey Ross, the Liberal party candidate, or Thomas Golisano, the
Independence party candidate? (* Golisano was not included in June 17 question.)

Jun 17
Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind 1998*

Vallone 25% 12% 46% 20% 4% 49% 19% 19%

Pataki 50 55 33 62 82 28 47 59

McCaughey Ross 6 6 6 5 3 6 7 12

Golisano 7 13 3 1 5 3 11 -

SONEONE ELSE (VOL) - - 1 - 1 - - 1

WON'T VOTE (VOL) 2 2 2 - 1 2 2 2

DK/NA 12 13 10 11 5 12 15 7

11. If the 1998 election for Governor were being held today would you vote for
George Pataki, the Republican candidate, Peter Vallone, the Democratic candidate,
Betsey McCaughey Ross, the Liberal party candidate, or Thomas Golisano, the
Independence party candidate? (Likely Voters)

Likely
Voters
Vallone 26%

Pataki 53

McCaughey Ross 4

Golisano 9

SONEONE ELSE (VOL) -

DK/NA 8

13. If the 1998 election for State Attorney General were being held today,
would you vote for Dennis Vacco, the Republican candidate or Eliot Spitzer,
the Democratic candidate?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind

Vacco 40% 50% 23% 43% 74% 14% 40%

Eliot Spitzer 35 23 54 29 8 63 27

SOMEONE ELSE (VOL) 1 1 1 1 1 - 1

WON'T VOTE (VOL) 2 2 2 1 1 1 2

DK/NA 23 24 20 26 16 21 30

13. If the 1998 election for State Attorney General were being held today,
would you vote for Eliot Spitzer, the Democratic candidate or Dennis Vacco,
the Republican candidate? (Likely Voters)

Likely
Voters

Vacco 46%

Spitzer 37

DK/NA 17

14. If the 1998 election for State Controller were being held today, would
you vote for H. Carl McCall, the Democratic candidate or Bruce Blakeman, the
Republican candidate?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind

McCall 47% 40% 61% 41% 23% 71% 45%

Blakeman 20 24 12 25 50 6 14

SOMEONE ELSE (VOL) - 1 1 - - - 1

WON'T VOTE (VOL) 2 2 2 2 1 3 3

DK/NA 30 32 25 32 25 21 38

14. If the 1998 election for State Controller were being held today would you
vote forBruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate or H. Carl McCall, the
Democratic candidate? (Likely Voters)